The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-06-11

"cARRoLL's MANOR"
One of MaryIand's colonial Homes.

Brightly streamed the sunlight, merrily
sang the birds, fresh and sweet was the
sportive breeze that beautiful May morn
ing when, gay as the larks that winged
their aerial flight from dewy nest to ethe-
real blue, we, that is Misses Eunice Gather,
Grace Scrivnor, Edna Gather, and i.
Hewitt, under the espionage of Rev. G. G.
Cook and w. B. Gather, wendell our way
through leafy lanes and among the pleasant
farms of Howard, until, after charming
drive, we reached the handsome and ex-
tensive grounds of "Carroll's Manor" the
land of our ephemeral sojourn, at last.
After passing the gates, we bowled along
the smooth, concrete drives, and CHANGING
to espy a small edifce, its facade orna-
mented with sunny columns, much deco
rated as to entablature and cornice, our
curiosity was aroused to know the purpose
of the unique building. One of the party
hazarded the suggestion that it was chapel
for the ebon inhabitants of the ancient
''quarter" close by. This explanation was
received with favor, and after indulging in
rhapsodical remarks concerning its har-
mony and beauty, what was our chagrin
when we subsequently learned that it was
a dairy We drove through rows Of
stately trees bordering the avenues, scented
with fragrant pine-needles, and finally
emerged upon the sweeping curve leading
to the grand entrance. Truly beautiful
was the "Manor," with the May sun
shine softening its tinted walls, bright
ening the many windows and glinting upon
ivy spray and festooned wistaria; with its
lawn stretching away smooth as an emerald
mer de glace, while here and there palm
reared its fringed crest as proudly as If 1t
felt the warm breath of Afric's sunny cline
sweeping over the pyramids and obelisks
of the Nile land We alighted before the
marble steps leading to square portico of
the same stone, banked with tiers of gor-
geous, tropical bloom, massed against rich,
dropping foliage. Thence we passed into
a wide, lofty hall, ornamented with en-
cravings of the chase, huge divans, with
broad cushions extending along the walls,
great chairs, in which we looked extremely
small (and felt smaller, queer lamps, heavy
and antique, square mirrors, and on each
side of the door an immense deer head
with branching antlers, the graceful throat
of softest gray We were invited ''to walk
in the DRAWN room and rest ourselfs" by a
sable retainer (rejoicing in the harmonious
appellation of "Uncle Patrick }, but crest
was q term whose Specification we did not
care Just then to investigate; so out upon
another lawn glowing with parterres OF
richest bloom, great curves Of purple pan
sizes, brown and azure pansies, pansies like
sweet, human faces, and pansies with hearts
of gold; roses-roses with the damask flush
of a southern BELLE roses pale and pure as
snowhakes, roses fair as the dawn and
sweet as the breath of heaven. We did
not covet our neighbours howers-we took
them, for Patrick gave us carte blanche.
Fine trees and ornamental shrubs, trained
and trimmed into various forms Zone, we
noticed pruned until it represented cross
surmounting a CROWN, were scattered over
the smooth turf. As Sol neared the zenith
the masculine element of the party gently
limited that a feast of something more sub
stantial than roses would be acceptable; SO
delegation was deputized to convey the
'cheese-box" to secluded spot, where,
seated upon fallen tree, we lunched in
true nomadic style. Next the croquet
came into requisition, and selecting a
smooth, grassy stretch, we were soon deeply
engaged in endeavors to aim with mathe-
NAUTICAL precision and to solve why the
balls gyrated in directions utterly foreign
to any conceivable rule or design. Never
theless, we extracted an unlimited fund of
enjoyment from ''mis-hit' as well as shit ="
Finally, we turned our steps to the man
sion for tour of inspection; and just here
a word concerning the historical interest
and association connected with the "Manor"
We are all too well versed in history to be
ignorant of the fact that Charles Carroll of
Carrollton was one of the noble patriots
who, with pens that faltered not, affixed
their signatures to that grand old declara-
ton, the keynote of that harmonious
symphony in our free government, whose
prelude first swelled into chorus when that
band of earnest men calmly and deliberately
placed in defiance powerful kingdom, con
whose possessions the sun never sets, and
resolved "For Liberty to live, for Liberty
to die" We also know that his lineal de-
scendaat, John Lee Carroll, once occupied
the gubernatorial chair of Maryland.
Under the guidance of Patrick, we first
entered the drawing-room, long and high
ceiled, with carved mantle, wide windows,
and heavy, solid furniture. The musical
members of the party evoked sweet sounds
from handsome piano of modern work
manship, and then we admired the family
portraits, in gilded frames, and costumes of
I'VE olden time" The "signer" gazed be-
nignly upon us from above his deep, furred
collar, and the marble bust of the ex-gov-
ernor cleaned from its dark pedestal, while
aristocratic in every lineament was the fair,
womanly countenance resting against tall
easel. Several fine paintings, some five or
six feet in height, also occupy prominent
positions. The drawing room opened into
the state sleeping apartment, and there we
beheld, tapestried with drapery of pale,
golden hue, the square mahogany bedstead
upon which had reposed the immortal
Washington-that king in all but crown
and we to-day gazed from the same win
dows upon the very park that, nearly a
century ago, the tRuler of the Nation" had
admired in all its pristine beauty. Carved
gilt designs ornameuted the four tall posts,
and small carpeted steps led up to the
feathery mountain formerly thought con-
ducive to comfort. Next we assembled
noble staircases, passed along wide halls,
through suite after suite of cheerful rooms,
with quaint pieces of furniture, oval mir
rors, queer little pier glasses of fine old
polished woods, whose antiquity did not
constitute their only charm. After our
investigation of the realms of Somnus, we
stepped out upon the upper balconies and
admired the lovely stretch of park and fell,
glade and hill, while listening to Patrick's
"reminiscences of sole massa and missis, y
and as he waxed enthusiastic he described
ode fine times we had when de ladies and
gemmans from New York and Philadelphy
cum, wild de bosses and kerridges, an driv
and rid around, and cherry ebenin' had de
little tables ,ok down on de lawn, and dere
dey played de keards an drunk champagne,
l. II.